Tag Archives: oil

Fukushima

Government Incompetence: Japan’s own government experts blame the government for lack of response to nuclear disaster at Fukushima! Only 2 reactors now operating in Japan

Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is being questioned by their own experts regarding the safety of nuclear reactors.  The Agency responded by censoring their own experts!

A publicized debate held by Agency experts was cut short, when it became clear that the consensus was that the government was accountable for the lack of response to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and that the current “stress tests” were also lacking.

The censorship happened specifically because of criticisms of the Agency’s approval of stress testing done at the Ohi nuclear plant.

Experts were pissed: “I feel deceived!”-Ino Hiromitsu, Professor Emeritus University of Tokyo

“The panel started to fully review plant safety to prevent another Fukushima!  Why are you rushing for a conclusion?”-Goto Masashi, Shibaura Institute of Technology

An official with the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency basically said they’re getting impatient, when he pointed out that the experts have already met eight times about nuclear safety.

Japan is now down to just two operating nuclear reactors, out of 54 total.  Most reactors have been shut down for routine maintenance and inspections, but, local governments are the only ones who can OK restart, and so far they all say ‘no way’.

Japan’s major industries rely on electricity from nuclear power plants.  Japan’s crashing economy is being caused in large part to its major industries struggling to operate with so little power plants on line.  The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is probably being pushed to convince local governments to get those power plants back on line.

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? U.S. sanctions against Iran means death knell for French steel factory

On February 20, 2012, French steel workers are occupying the ArcelorMittal steel plant in northeast France.  Two blast furnaces have been shut down since October 2011.

I’ve posted how U.S. sanctions against Iran include the steel industry, and it’s having negative affects, not for Iran but the West!

The shut down of the ArcelorMittal blast furnaces is supposed to be temporary, but last week company officials announced an extension to the shut down.  About 200 employees responded by taking over company offices.  Employees fear the temporary shut down is going to become permanent, no thanks in part to the U.S. and European sanctions against Iran.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

Government Incompetence & World War 3: United States increasingly isolated over Sanctions against Iran. India and Japan still buying Iranian oil. South Korea gets exemption

“India’s decision to walk out of step with the international community on Iran isn’t just a slap in the face for the U.S. – it raises questions about its ability to lead. The Indian government’s ill-advised statement last week that it will continue to purchase oil from Iran is a major setback for the U.S. attempt to isolate the Iranian government…”-Nicholas Burns, former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs

India joins a growing list of countries basically telling the U.S., and U.K., to go stuff themselves.  Indian government officials are working with Indian companies to create a system that will let them pay for Iranian oil with Indian rupees.

In Japan, an affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell, says they will continue buying Iranian oil despite pressure from the U.S. government. Showa Shell Sekiyu KK is Japan’s 5th largest refinery, and uses 100,000 barrels per day of Iranian oil.  Officials say they are affiliated with Royal Dutch Shell, but they operate independently and have their own contracts with Iran.  This is also why Iran has not stopped oil shipments to Japan (Royal Dutch Shell is a British/U.S./Dutch controlled company).

Then there’s South Korea, which has managed to convince U.S. lawmakers to exempt more than 2,000 Korean companies from the sanctions.  Not only that, but South Korea’s Woori Bank, and the Industrial Bank of Korea, do business directly with Iran Central Bank.  Their transactions are done in Korean money, thus avoiding the U.S. petro-dollar.

International, U.S.

Red Horse & World War 3: More proof that the U.S. is in bed with al-Qaeda, Iraqi militia joining U.S. supported Free Syria Army

“…if we look back at the number of secular regimes the U.S. has undermined, destabilized or toppled: Afghanistan in the 1970s and 80s, of course we’ve had Libya, Yugoslavia….so it’s a great myth to think that the U.S. and al-Qaeda will always be on the opposite side. They’re often on the same side.”-Neil Clark, contributor to the Guardian

Russian media have interviewed Iraqi militia, who are associated with al-Qaeda, as they prepared to go to Syria to join the U.S. and Israeli backed Free Syria Army.

The group was once known as the Army of Free Iraqis, and with support from al-Qaeda they regularly fought against U.S. troops.

In one photo an Iraqi held up his hand, which had written on it “Free Syria” indicating he was heading to Syria to join the U.S. backed insurgency.

Both Syrian, and Iraqi government officials have stated that many of the so called democracy demonstrators were actually from outside Syria.

Even Director of U.S. National Intelligence, James Clapper, said recent bombings in Syria “…had all the earmarks of an al-Qaeda-like attack, and so we believe al-Qaeda in Iraq is extending its reach into Syria.”

Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other.

International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran, Afghanistan & Pakistan on verge of forming military pact, warns U.S. officials to stop making secret deals with the Taliban

On February 17, 2012, the presidents of Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan vowed to create an alliance that would prevent anymore ‘foreign’ interventions in the region.

At a meeting held in Pakistan, President Hamid Karzai, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President Asif Ali Zardari issued the statement to U.S. officials.  So far no response from U.S. officials.

They also told U.S. officials that only Afghanistan has final say in peace talks with Taliban: “Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan reiterated their full support for an Afghan led and Afghan owned inclusive process of peace and reconciliation. They assured the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan that they would extend full cooperation and stressed that any initiative in this regard must have authentic Afghan ownership.”

The above statement was issued because they believe the United States is making secret deals with the Taliban!

Pakistan also pointed out, that despite criticism from the U.S., more Pakistanis have died than Americans in the so called War on Terror.  Pakistan claims 35,000 civilians and security personnel have died, in the name of helping the U.S., since the 2001 U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.

 

 

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3 & Government Incompetence: Iran shuts down global Steel industries, blame the United States, Russians pissed off. “Iran is King”

“Iran is the only market in the world that can move billet prices and now trading has basically come to a halt.”-unnamed British steel trader

Not only is the U.S. oil sanctions on Iran backfiring, but so are U.S. sanctions on steel sold to Iran!

“Now you can really feel the effects of the sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Europe…It is very difficult to do any business with Iran at the moment.”-unnamed Swiss steel trader

U.S. and European sanctions might have stopped the sale of steel to Iran, but it’s also shutting down U.S. and European steel makers!  Why?  Iran is the biggest buyer of steel billet, and with the biggest buyer of steel out of the game steel prices are dropping like a rock!!!   (unlike oil, where everyone is trying to get their hands on it, thus causing oil prices to go up)

Russia is upset because they supply much of the steel Iran uses (Iran buys 15% of the steel exported by Russia): “Russian producers are not selling to Iran as they need pre-payments and won’t accept letters of credit. If I find a way to do that I won’t tell you. Iran is the king market in steel and if we can find a way to trade with them again we certainly would not share the know-how.”-unnamed Swiss steel trader dealing in Russian steel

Unlike the oil market, where Iran has established a successful trade system that avoids the U.S. dollar and U.S. & U.K. banks, the global steel market is still dominated by U.S. & British banks.  But some Russian’s are hopeful they’ll find a way ’round it: “Steel demand is pretty strong, the problem is the banking system. Russian banks do not have trading lines with Iranian banks to facilitate ruble transactions.”-Dmitry Smolin, URALSIB Capital

 

International

Iran and Oman to hold joint Naval war games

Sometime at the end of March, Iran and Oman will hold joint naval exercises.  Oman is located northeast of Yemen, south of the Strait of Hormuz along the Indian Ocean.

The majority of Oman’s Muslims are Ibadhi, with major differences from Iran’s Shi’a.  The government of Oman is a Unitary Islamic Absolute Monarcy.

The planned March war games, and rescue drills, would be the third time Iran and Oman held such exercises.

Business/Economics, International, U.S.

World War 3: Iran cuts off oil supplies for two European countries, oil already more than $120 per barrel

February 19, 2012, Iran has officially shut off oil supplies to oil companies from United Kingdom and France!

“We have our own oil customers and replacements for these companies have already been chosen, and we will sell the crude oil to new customers instead of the British and French companies.”-Alireza Nikzad-Rahbar, Iranian Oil Ministry

However, Britain and France are not major European buyers of Iranian oil (Italy is).  About 3% of oil bought by France comes from Iran, and only 1% makes up Britain’s oil use.

Iran’s move to block oil shipments to Europe came after Europe joined the U.S. in imposing an oil embargo.  Iranian officials have repeatedly said that it’s Western countries that will be hurt most from a loss of Iranian oil.

In some countries the price of a barrel of oil has already gone over $120.00.

International, U.S.

NATO leader says Syria too complicated for military action by NATO. NATO’s stated reasons are an example of Orwellian Doublespeak

“We have no intention whatsoever to intervene in Syria.”-Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General

On February 17, 2012, NATO boss, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, told reporters in Turkey that NATO would not get involved in Syria.  One reporter asked if that included a UN resolution calling for war: “No, I don’t think so because Syria is also a different society, it is much more complicated ethnically, politically, religiously. That’s why I do believe that a regional solution should be found.” -Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO Secretary General

I think what he really meant was there are still too many Syrian’s who support their government.  After all, Libya is just as complicated with all its different tribal and religious divisions.  Libya’s “complicated” divisions made it easier for the U.S. and Europe to instigate civil war, only because there were enough Libyans who could be bought off.

So in reality Syria is not anymore complicated than Libya, except that most Syrians can not be bought off, and are more united with their government, against a foreign backed civil war.  And that’s what Anders Fogh Rasmussen really means when he says Syria “is much more complicated”.